The Power of Joy
Notes
Transcript
The Power of Joy
Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.[1]
· But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard
It is essential to observe that the fruit here described is not produced by a believer but by the Holy Spirit working through the life of a Christian who is in vital union with Christ[2] There are nine of them.
· Paul is writing to several churches in that region about walking in the flesh.
As he had done when he was in their midst, the apostle warned the Galatians that those who live like this, who habitually indulge in these fleshly sins, will not inherit the future kingdom of God. This does not say that a Christian loses his salvation if he lapses into a sin of the flesh, but that a person who lives continually on such a level of moral corruption gives evidence of not being a child of God.[3]
· Evidence of walking in the Spirit is “Joy.”
· Joy means delight, gladness, a deep and abiding enter rejoicing
There is a difference between joy and happiness
· Happiness deal with an external feeling
· Happiness is when you get a new job; that’s happiness
· Or if you get a new car
· You but a new dress
Joy, on the other hand
· It isn’t dependent on external things but depends on internal
· It’s something that God gives you on the inside that keeps you going and alive.
· God doesn’t want us to be miserable, depressed, sad, frustrated, unhappy; that’s not the will of God for us.
· God wants us to have joy, and it’s based on an internal deal
· No matter what is happening outside, God wants us to have the joy that only He can give, and it’s internal. That’s no matter what you are facing on the outside; as a believer, God has given us the ability to take a licking and keep on ticking.
First Point: Christ Wants Us to Have Full Joy: A joy that Remains
John 15:11 says: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full[4]
· That My joy remains in you, and your joy may be full
· He wants us to have full joy that remains, and we shouldn’t accept anything in life that doesn’t allow us to have full joy that remains
· John 15:1 says: I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser[5], and the only way we can bear this kind of fruit, (Of Joy) is to abide in Him
· And the only way to have this kind of joy is to have a relationship with Jesus, to walk with Jesus. You have to pray and be in the Word
· What gives us joy is our relationship with Christ, the joy that Christ gives helps us to overcome the tricks of the Devil… How by abiding in the vine
Point #2 Joy Enables Us to Endure Problems
Hebrews 12:2 says: 2 looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[6]
· Here’s what that verse is saying: Jesus was able to endure the cross and the shame because of the joy that was set before Him.
· We can endure life because of the joy that is set before us
· When we focus on our present circumstances, we can’t see that God is taking us to another place.
· Because where you are right now is not where you are going to, but where you are going through!
o You’re not going to this drama; I am going through this drama
o On the other side of it, God’s has victory for me
o On the other side of it, God has joy for me
o On the other side of this drama and this pain, I got someplace I am going
· That no matter what we are going through, it’s not as bad as what Jesus went through; He endured the cross
· Because He knew that what every He was going through it was temporary because the Scripture says He is seated at the right hand of the Father
· And whatever you are going through, you have to know that it is only temporary!
· Because God is trying to take us to another place
o I don’t know what it is
o I don’t know how it is coming
o All I know I got something coming down the pipe
o I got something joyful coming!
· I am not going to cry about it
· I am going to worry about it anymore
· All I know God is taking me somewhere
· It’s all how we look at life; God’s has a plan for our future
Point #3 The Joy of the Lord is our Strength
Nehemiah 8:10: 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lordis your strength.”[7]
· The job didn’t work out… praise God because that means He has something better for us, more joyful for us
· Because the Joy of the Lord is our strength
· It’s His joy that gives us the strength to make it
· But it only comes through a relationship with Christ!
· Some people will never make it because they will never humble themselves to say that they need the Lord.
· I had to humble myself… before I found the joy and the peace of the Lord.
· God is able to do what He said He can do; He is able!
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ga 5:22–23). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2]Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 608). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 608). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 15:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 15:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[6] The New King James Version. (1982). (Heb 12:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ne 8:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.